Holyoke Y.M.C.A. 

Three photos of the Y.M.C.A. at the northwest corner of High & Appleton streets in 1905. The building stood until 1943 when it was destroyed by fire.

The Greater Holyoke Y.M.C.A. has proudly served the community since 1886. The world’s second most played sport – volleyball – was invented in 1895 at the Greater Holyoke Y by William Morgan.

There’s a detailed history of Volleyball’s creation and early evolution on the International Volleyball Federation Website: International Volleyball Federation Website (FIVB).

The Greater Holyoke Y was first located at the corner of Appleton and High streets in downtown Holyoke. The site included a gym and rooms for rent. Unfortunately the building was lost to fire in 1943.

In 1950, a second building was completed at the corner of Appleton and Beech streets. This photo, courtesy of the Holyoke Y.M.C.A. was taken from the now extinct Chase Avenue which bordered the Y on it's north side. The street which ran east-west connecting Beech with Pine was eliminated when the Y built a new addition to house it's pool several years ago.  (holyoke ymca.org)